The great Johnnie Walker

A good friend, Colin Baines, posted this piece about the BBC broadcaster Johnnie Walker’s career. When Colin did so he made the comment that he had been on the road at the time of Johnnie’s ‘Drive Time’ show and his interview with me. That was way back when I’d just published the first edition of Into Africa and was wondering if I’d wasted my time, though I was very hopeful of course.

Colin had pulled over to listen to the show and so our friendship started.

I’ve never forgotten Johnnie, and the world he opened up to me by inviting me on his show. When I had the phone call from one of his production team, inviting me on the show, I was trying hard to work out which it was of my mates who was playing a prank! Everyone should have a few nuts as friends eh.

“This is a genuine invitation,” said the voice on the other end of the line. “Johnnie has heard about your travels and has had people say how good your book is. He’s looking forward to you joining him. Can you make it on X date?”

You’ll imagine there was quite a long moment of gobsmacked silence from me after the call had ended.

When I turned up at Broadcasting House in London, I was full of doubt. Did I really have the justification to be on Johnnie’s show? Would I cock it up? Would I let Johnnie down?

I arrived hours early and sat on a large sofa in the corridor. The sort of sofa that you can almost disappear into. But I was still visible enough for BBC people walking past me to give me curious looks. I was drinking Lucozade, so I didn’t run out of energy, and popping paracetamol so I didn’t get a hammering head!

Eventually one of the people asked who I was. I explained, and she laughed. “Usually guests arrive at the last possible minute. I’ll tell Johnnie he has an unusual guest waiting for him.”

20 minutes later I was shown into the studio and Johnnie gave me a big grin. Within seconds we were nattering. He was so good at putting me at ease, and was obviously interested in what I’d been up to, the conversation flowed. I’d no idea before we started that Johnnie was a bike nut too.

But his influence on my life didn’t stop there. A few months later I was doing a book signing at a motorcycle dealership. I looked up and there in the queue, waiting calmly, was Johnnie. When he got to the front he said “Hello Sam, I heard you were book signing here so I thought I’d pop in and say hello.”

What a top bloke. Not a dash of arrogance about him. The respect he has from everyone is well earned.
“Thank you Johnnie.”